Can I Take Levlite While Breastfeeding?
Levlite® (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) is a prescription
birth control pill. It is a combined
oral contraceptive (so named because it contains both a progestin and an estrogen hormone). Although combined oral contraceptives are very effective at preventing pregnancy, they are usually not recommended for breastfeeding women.
(Levlite is equivalent to Lessina® and Spronyx™ birth control pills. The information in this article also applies to both of these medications.)
What Does the Research Say About Levlite and Breastfeeding?
Research suggests that the hormones in birth control pills pass through breast milk in low amounts. These small amounts are probably too low to cause significant or long-lasting problems in breastfed infants. There have been cases of problems (such as jaundice and breast enlargement) in babies whose mothers took other combined oral contraceptives while breastfeeding.
More importantly, combined contraceptives (such as Levlite) may decrease the production and quality of breast milk. For this reason, progestin-only oral contraceptives (also known as "mini-pills") are almost always recommended instead of combined contraceptives in breastfeeding women. However, progestin-only contraceptive pills are usually much less effective than combined oral contraceptives. As soon as you stop breastfeeding, it may be a good idea to ask your healthcare provider about switching back to a combined contraceptive product (such as Levlite). Most birth control pills currently available are combined oral contraceptives; only a few are progestin-only contraceptives.
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